This week's countdown on 80's on 8 was from March 20, 1982. If you listen to "80's" radio stations and map out what year the songs are from, let's just say that the first 3 years of the 80's are underrepresented. The British New Wave had barely begun, no Madonna, Whitney, Janet, George Michael, very early Big Hair metal. Very little of Prince, Michael Jackson,... Leaving John Cougar and Billy Joel among the few who had hits in 1980 and then are still played.
Plus, lots of country, adult contemporary, and just plain weird novelty records....and even some rock records that just sound dated. Two of them hit #1 back to back..."Centerfold" by J. Geils and then "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett. Steve Miller's Abracadabra fits that mold too, coming later in 1982.
You could almost hear the frustration in the DJ's as they made comments about how eclectic it all is going from an Oak Ridge Boys to the Police with a straight face, then onto Pac Man Fever, which kept the Police from hitting the top 10...as did Air Supply. A comedy record, a slow instrumental, a 50's tribute, and three other A/C songs in the top 20. Sir Cliff Richard making his last top 40 appearance.
But hey, I came of musical age in 1981, so this is still my music! How many of the below might you ever hear on an 80's station -- not very many...
1 3 I LOVE ROCK ‘N ROLL –•– Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (Boardwalk)-7 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 2 OPEN ARMS –•– Journey (Columbia)-10 (2)
3 1 CENTERFOLD –•– The J. Geils Band (EMI-America)-20 (1)
4 5 THAT GIRL –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-10 (4)
5 6 SWEET DREAMS –•– Air Supply (Arista)-15 (5)
6 7 WE GOT THE BEAT –•– The Go-Go’s (I.R.S.)-8 (6)
7 17 MAKE A MOVE ON ME –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-6 (7)
8 8 MIRROR, MIRROR –•– Diana Ross (RCA)-11 (8)
9 4 SHAKE IT UP –•– The Cars (Elektra)-18 (4)
10 12 PAC-MAN FEVER –•– Buckner and Garcia (Columbia)-11 (10)
11 11 SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD –•– The Police (A&M)-10 (11)
12 14 BOBBIE SUE –•– The Oak Ridge Boys (MCA)-10 (12)
13 16 KEY LARGO –•– Bertie Higgins (Kat Family)-19 (13)
14 18 CHARIOTS OF FIRE – TITLES –•– Vangelis (Polydor)-15 (14)
15 9 LEADER OF THE BAND –•– Dan Fogelberg (Full Moon)-17 (9)
16 10 TAKE IT EASY ON ME –•– The Little River Band (Capitol)-16 (10)
17 19 SHOULD I DO IT –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-9 (17)
18 29 FREEZE-FRAME –•– The J. Geils Band (EMI-America)-5 (18)
19 22 TAKE OFF –•– Bob and Doug McKenzie (Mercury)-8 (19)
20 21 TONIGHT I’M YOURS (Don’t Hurt Me) –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-9 (20)
21 23 DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE –•– Huey Lewis and the News (Chrysalis)-7 (21)
22 30 (Oh) PRETTY WOMAN –•– Van Halen (Warner Brothers)-7 (22)
23 24 DADDY’S HOME –•– Cliff Richard (EMI-America)-10 (23)
24 36 DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-3 (24)
25 31 EDGE OF SEVENTEEN (Just Like the White Winged Dove) –•– Stevie Nicks (Modern)-5 (25)
26 28 ONE HUNDRED WAYS –•– Quincy Jones Featuring James Ingram (A&M)-14 (26)
27 27 WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE –•– Abba (Atlantic)-11 (27)
28 32 MY GUY –•– Sister Sledge (Coltillion)-8 (28)
29 13 THROUGH THE YEARS –•– Kenny Rogers (Liberty)-13 (13)
30 40 FIND ANOTHER FOOL –•– Quarterflash (Geffen)-6 (30)
31 35 JUKE BOX HERO –•– Foreigner (Atlantic)-6 (31)
32 37 ON THE WAY TO THE SKY –•– Neil Diamond (Columbia)-6 (32)
33 34 TELL ME TOMORROW (Part 1) –•– Smokey Robinson (Tamla)-10 (33)
34 38 867-5309/JENNY –•– Tommy Tutone (Columbia)-9 (34)
35 41 NOBODY SAID IT WAS EASY (Lookin’ For the Lights) –•– Le Roux (RCA)-6 (35)
36 47 ’65 LOVE AFFAIR –•– Paul Davis (Arista)-4 (36)
37 15 LOVE IN THE FIRST DEGREE –•– Alabama (RCA)-19 (15)
38 51 GOIN’ DOWN –•– Greg Guidry (Columbia)-6 (38)
39 39 DON’T LET HIM KNOW –•– Prism (Capitol)-8 (39)
40 42 JUST CAN’T WIN ‘EM ALL –•– Stevie Woods (Cotillion)-9 (40)
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